Understanding Herbal Support and Beauty from Within

David Winston brings the following information to us from a webinar topic Herbalist & Alchemist asked him to do for our wholesale customers. And of course David brought herbs into the discussion. "Herbs help to nourish us, support us, and keep us healthy". 

Whether your skin is dry or cracked or you have acne or blemishes, that reflects an internal process. The skin is the largest eliminatory organ. Some dermatologists may say what you eat doesn’t affect your skin, but we know it does. Digestion, elimination, gut health, the intestinal microbiome, liver function, kidney function, respiratory function – all play a significant role in the elimination of metabolic wastes and the health of our skin. In addition, lack of sleep can age you very quickly. Adequate and good quality sleep are essential for maintaining health and looking your best. This is also true of emotional health, people who are depressed, or anxious often do not sleep well, look tired and worn out and so not have the strength to take good care of themselves. 

One of the best things you can do is eat a healthy diet. Some recent research reinforced the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. And look out for food products that are really junk food masquerading as better for you choices, like many gluten-free products that are still full of refined carbohydrates and added sugars. 

Exercise is another essential aspect of good health. An hour three days a week at the gym is good, but try to do something every day. I have started walking about 3 miles (5K) every day, just being outside in nature makes a difference. And increasing physical activity is a great way to manage stress. I don’t suppose I have to mention that the last couple of years have been really stressful for almost everyone. 

Equally important are maintaining healthy relationships, whether it’s with a significant other, your family, friends, or companion animals, and finding interests that you are passionate about improve the quality of life and emotional/physical health.  I also believe that learning to find joy in life acts as an antidote to challenges and disappointments that are inherent in living.

Supporting immune function is especially important this time of year. I just read a study showing that one of the reasons people get sick more in the wintertime is that breathing cold air shuts down the immune cells lining the passages of the nose and sinuses. So, cover your nose and mouth to protect those cells.

So much of how you look and feel comes down to digestion, elimination, and a healthy gut microbiome. What you eat has a huge impact on intestinal flora. Whole grains, probiotic rich foods rather than simple sugars and carbohydrates, make a significant difference.  Bitters are one of the best things to stimulate digestion, which then improves the absorption of nutrients and ultimately the effective elimination of wastes via the bowel. I often say everything’s better with bitters, and in my clinical experience that is most often true.  After taking a good bitters formula people will not only notice less gas, bloating, temporary constipation or diarrhea, etc, but over time will start to realize that their their skin  clears up, their minor aches and pains have lessened, and they feel better and more resilient overall.

Another group of herbs that are helpful here are Alterative herbs, which enhance the body’s natural ability to  eliminate metabolic waste via the major eliminatory systems without exciting a noticeable increase in elimination.

• One such formula is the Burdock/Red Root Compound™, which contains Burdock root, Red Root, Echinacea purpurea root, Figwort, Red Clover flower, and Violet. 
• Healthy Skin Compound™,  another Alterative formula, is a combination of herbs that address common skin conditions such as redness of the skin, simple acne, skin that is dry or leathery or that is excessively oily.  It contains traditional skin herbs such as Sarsaparilla root, Yellow Dock root, Burdock seed, Horsetail, and Red Alder bark.

Endocrine system support involves most of the body’s major systems.

• Adrenal Balance Compound™, which works on adrenal depletion and HPA axis dysfunction, contains adaptogens and restorative tonics such as Eleuthero root, Schisandra fruit, Codonopsis root, Holy Basil, Devil’s Club root bark and Goji Berry.
• Metabolic Support™ has fewer adaptogens, but rather herbs that support healthy pancreatic function and already normal blood sugar levels: Bitter Melon fruit, Cinnamon bark, Fenugreek seed, Olive leaf, Artichoke leaf, Holy Basil, and Lycium fruit.

Another important area to think about is support for energy and vitality, which to me means adaptogens and their companion herbs. They help us adapt to stress by reregulating the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis and/or the SAS (Sympatho-adrenal system). They also upregulate molecular chaperones that help prevent from the effects of stress and inhibit excessive cortisol release.

• Energy Adapt™ is a stimulating combination of adaptogens, nootropics and restorative tonic  such as Gotu Kola, Red Ginseng, Rhodiola root,  Holy Basil, Mimosa bark, Maca root, and Rosemary.
• Daily Adapt™ is a little less stimulating, for people who  need a more balanced herbal blend, with Eleuthero root, Oak milky seed, Gotu Kola, Rhodiola root and American Ginseng root.  
• Fit Adapt™ is designed for people who are athletes, in training, or do physically demanding work. It contains Eleuthero root, Schisandra fruit, Hawthorn flower, berry and leaf, Reishi mushroom and mycelium, Ashwagandha root, Sarsaparilla root, Turmeric rhizome and the deeply nourishing fungus Cordyceps.

And, of course, managing stress enters into how people look and feel. In addition to lifestyle practices like yoga, meditation, and spending time outside, we also have our formulas with adaptogens and nervines.

• Calm Adapt™ blends Ashwagandha root with Linden flower, Oat milky seed, Reishi mushroom and mycelium, and Schisandra berry.
• Serenity Compound™ only has one mild adaptogen, Eleuthero, combined with nervines Chamomile flowers, Linden flower, Oat milky seed, and Skullcap flowering tops.
• Tension Relief™ formula contains anxiolytics and nervines such as Motherwort flowering tops, Oat milky seed, Blue vervain flowering tops, Bacopa, and Polygala root.

Adequate, good quality sleep has impact on how you look and feel. Follow a bedtime routine with a regular bedtime and don’t watch or read stimulating things before that time. Eating or drinking alcohol close to bedtime will interfere in good sleep hygiene. 

• One formula to support healthy sleep is Phytocalm™, with Skullcap flowering tops, Hops strobiles, Oat milky seed, Passionflower, California Poppy whole plant and Valarian root.

Taking care of yourself will benefit how you look. While that may not be the main reason we do it, it is a wonderful bonus to living a healthy life.

*(Editor’s note: A recent market insight report by InsightAce Analytic forecasts a significant growth of the global beauty ingestible market size of 11% from 2022 to 2030. It was valued at US (Dollar) 3.29 billion in 2021, and is predicted to reach US$ 8.30 billion by 2030. So, yeah, it’s definitely a thing.)

This blog is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, not be a substitute for, professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.